Cigarette server



Oct. 24, 1939. cs. WEST I CIGARETTE SERVER Filed April 30 INVENTUR.GEO/2 GE L. WES 7* A TTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIGARETTE SERVER-Application April 30, 1938, Serial No. 205,258 3 Claims. (oi. 21 1 1'2)The present invention relates to structures adapted for the serving ofsmoking articles and more particularly to an article for servingcigarettes, designed for domestic use.

A primary object of my invention is the provision of a cigarette serverin which a large number of cigarettes or similar articles are socontained in individual compartments as to be readily removable at anytime.

A second object of the invention is to provide a cigarette server which,when placed upon a table or other support, will make available anadditional surface upon which various other articles may be placed.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become more apparentduring the course of the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof.

The ordinary cigarette box or container is provided with a removablelid, designed to cover completely the supply of cigarettes, andaccordingly before a cigarette may be removed from the container it isnecessary to remove the cover. Obviously, therefore, nothing can beplaced on the box and when the usual container is placed upon a table,it will occupy space which, in case the table is crowded, could be usedmore profitably for other purposes. Moreover, the cigarettes are soclosely packed in the container that it is impossible to remove onewithout touching a number of others. In addition the cigarettes arecustomarily disposed horizontally and in parallelism so that it isinconvenient for one to be selected.

A cigarette server constructed in accordance with the provisions of thepresent invention comprises a relatively flat, disc-like body, the topsurface of which may be employed as a support for articles normallyplaced upon a table. Radial recesses are provided around the peripheryof this disc and function as individual receptacles for a number ofcigarettes, maintained in such position that a portion of each cigaretteprotrudes from the disc a distance sufficient that it may be grasped andremoved easily from the server.

One embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing,wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of a cigarette server constructed inaccordance with the provisions of my invention; and Figure 2 is asectional view thereof taken substantially along the line 11-11 ofFigure 1.

In the drawing, a circular base plate I of opaque structural glass orother suitable material is provided with a plurality of radiallydisposed troughs 2, regularly spaced around the periphery of the baseplate and formed therein by any suitable means, as for example, grindingor sand blasting. The troughs or grooves 2 have a depth sufficient toreceive cigarettes 3 and are of such length as to leave portions thereofprojecting outwardly. A plurality of spaced, upwardly-extending pins 4are secured at their bases in the plate I and washers 5 of rubber orother resilient material are disposed upon the projecting portions ofthe pins. A cover plate 6 of transparent glass is superposed upon theplate I spaced therefrom by the washers 5, and contains sockets 1suitably disposed to engage the extending portions of the pins 4.

The cover plate 6 may carry upon its lower surface an appropriate design8, applied thereto by any suitable means, as for example, by sandblasting, etching, painting, etc. By spacing the cover plate from thebase plate I, any mechanical deterioration of this design will beobviated. The design 8 may be, if preferred, formed upon the uppersurface of the base plate I, in which case it will also be protected bythe spaced relation of the component elements of the server.

In certain instances, it may be preferred that the cover plate restdirectly upon the base plate. Such construction would prevent theentrance of dust or other foreign matter between the plates. Deepersockets l and elimination of the washers 5 permit the desired face toface contact. The cover plate may be fixed upon the pins 4 to provide amore stable article.

In the disclosed structure, wherein the cover plate engages positivelythe pins 4 but is not fixed thereon, it will be obvious that lateraldisplacement of the cover plate is impossible, although the plates maybe separated for cleaning. Accordingly the upper surface of the coverplate may be used to receive articles 9, such as ash trays, lighters,match cases, etc. Since the troughs 2 are not long enough to contain theentire body of a cigarette, a sufficient portion thereof will extendbeyond the plates to permit an easy removal of a cigarette from theserver. Also, in view of the fact that the recesses are radiallydisposed about the periphery of the base plate, sufficient room isprovided for the removal of an individual cigarette from any side of theserver. Often the cigarettes stored in the grooves will be of aplurality of brands to meet the tastes of various individuals. Thetransparency of the cover plate 6 then permits a proper selection to bemade.

It will at once be obvious that various modifications in structuraldetails may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention orthe scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1l A cigarette server comprising a circular base plate of structuralglass provided with radially disposed troughs regularly spaced aroundits periphery, vertically projecting pins positioned in the base plate,and a circular cover plate of transparent glass superposed upon the baseplate, maintained in spaced relation therefrom, and engaging the pinsextending from the base plate to prevent a lateral displacement of thecover plate.

2. A cigarette server comprising {a circular base plate of opaquestructural glass provided with radial grooves regularly spaced aroundits periphery, each groove being of a size sufiicient to receive acigarette, vertically projecting pins centrally disposed of the baseplate, and. a

circular cover plate of transparent glass superposed upon the baseplate, maintained in spaced relation thereto and engaging the pinsextending from the base plate to prevent a lateral displacement of thecover plate.

3. A cigarette server consisting of a pair of glass plates, the upperone being transparent, of approximately circular outline, securedtogether by pins, spacing means comprising Washers of resilientmaterial, disposed upon the pins, a design formed upon one of thejuxtaposed faces of the glass plates, recesses formed at regularlyspaced intervals about the periphery of at least one of the plates, eachrecess being of such proportions as to contain an individual cigarettewith a portion thereof projecting outwardly a distance suificient thatit may be grasped and removed easily from the server.

GEORGE L. WEST.

